"We seldom get into trouble when we speak softly. It is only when we raise our voices that the sparks fly and tiny molehills become great mountains of contention."
For a few years there
it seemed I was creating tons of recipes with Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
in them — it figured into a delicious Eggs Benedict recipe that
won me a killer trip to France, and now it figures into a delicious
chowder that won a Caribbean cruise for the family.
If you like
seafood, you'll love this — and it's so easy because there's no
meat to cook up ahead of time. It's both creamy and spicy, but
not so spicy that it overwhelms the flavor of the seafood. It
was sponsored by Chicken of the Sea, so I used several of their
products and the result is truly scrumptious:
1 (6 oz.) can Chicken of the Sea shrimp, drained
1 (6 oz.) can Chicken of the Sea crab meat, drained
1 (6 oz.) can Chicken of the Sea minced clams, drained
1 (6.5 oz) Rice-a-Roni Red Beans and Rice mix
2 Cups lite sour cream
3 Cups milk
4 Cups grated pepper jack cheese (or use regular Monterey Jack for a milder version)
2 Tbsp. Jamaican Jerk Seasoning (Schilling/McCormick)
1 (15 oz.) can corn, drained
1 (5 oz.) can mild chopped green chilies
1 Tbsp. lime juice
1 Cup grated cheddar cheese, optional
In a large
kettle, prepare rice according to package instructions. Over
moderately low heat, add shrimp, crab, clams, sour cream, milk,
pepper jack cheese, and jerk seasoning. Heat until cheese
melts, but do not boil. Stir in corn, chilies, and lime juice.
Serve hot, sprinkled with cheddar cheese. Add some crusty bread and
you'll feel transported to a fisherman's wharf in the Caribbean.
Joni is an award-winning playwright, the author of 20 books, holds a master of fine arts degree
in professional writing from USC, and is frequently published in major magazines. Tune in to
her radio advice show at AM1380, at 9 a.m. Pacific Time, on saturday mornings.
A former TV talk show host in Los Angeles, she is also a TV spokeswoman across the U.S. for
various corporations, and highly in demand as a public speaker.
She is founder and former CEO of Holy Cow, an organic line of cleaning products, the winner of
dozens of cooking contests, and a former model and Miss California. She is married to TV
personality Bob Hilton, and they are the parents of four children.